BX 
7*6,0 


Dr.  Colman's 

S  E  R  M  O  N 


on 

of  the  very  Reverend 

Mr.  Teter  Tbacher 

^BOSTON. 


g^5   m  --•'•••  *~     -- 


Faithful  PASTORS 
Angels  of  the  Churches. 

A 

SERMON 

Preached  to  the        ;'*  /, 

^Bereaved  FlocJ^ 

March  4.  1739. 

On  the  Lord's-Day  after    the  Funeral 
of  the  Reverend 

Mr.  Peter  Tbacber 

of   Boflon.  JEcat.  62. 
And  now  printed  at  their  Defire. 

By  ^Benjamin  Colman,  D-  D. 

Revel,  ii.   i.  Unto  the  Angel  of  tie  Clurcl  of\ 
Ephefus,  Write  tlefe  flings j  faith  He  that  hath 
the  feven  Stars  in  his  right  Hand^  who  walketb  in 
the  midft  of  the  feven  golden  Candleftlcks. 

BOSTON:    Printed  by    J.   draper,  for  D. 
Henclman  and  S.  Eliot  in  Cornhill.  1739. 

'  I  i|  ill     l|  ill  I'  ii  111  ill  II  IllPilPi  PHI  II  IlllliiiUPilll 


f?*%-iH?^^*w1^ 

Faithful  Paftors 

THE 

Angels  of  the  Churches. 


R  E  V  E  L.  I.  20. 

THE  Myftery  of  the  Jeven  Stars  which  tbou  faw- 
ejt  In  my  right  Hand,  and  the  feven  golden 
Candlefticks  :  The  (even  Stars  are  THE  ANGELS 
of  the  (even  Churches,  and  the  (even  Candkfticks 
which  tbonfaweft  are  the  feven  Churches. 


HE  beloved  Difciple  Job*; 
who  had  lain  in  the  Bofom 
of  Jefui  in  the  Days  of  his 
Fleihj  was  honoured  by  Him 
to  out-live  the  other  dfoftles, 
and  to  receive  his  laft  Reve 

lations  to  the  Church. 

~~ 


From  JESUS  CHRIST,  the  faithful 
randfrfl  begotten  of  the  Dead,  he  wrote  to 
Churches  which  were  inAfia  by  Name;  and  calls 
hitnfelf  their  Brother  and  Companion  In  Tribulation, 
and  in  the  Kingdom  and  farttncc  ofjefus  Cbrift* 

He 


Pa  ft  or  s 


He  writes  to  'em  of  His  Eternal  Power  and 
God-head^  "  I  am  jtlpha  and  Omega,  the  Beginning 
and  ibe  Ending,  faith  the  LORD,  'which  is  and 
which  was  and  which  is  to  come,  the  Almighty  !  He 
writes  to  'em  of  his  fecond  coming  in  Glory  • 
7  Behold,  He  cometh  with  Clouds,  and  every  Eye  fh  all 
fee  Him,  and  they  alfa  which  pierced  Him,  and  all 
Kindreds  of  the  Earth  Jhall  wail  becatije  of  Him  : 
Even  ft,  Amen, 

St.  John  was  now  in  the  IJle  called  Patwes,  an 
Exile  there  and  Prifiner  for  the  Ttflimony  ofjefus 
Chrift  his  Lord  ;  and  there  on  the  Lord's-Day  he 
was  in  the  Spirit,  in  a  fpiritual  Trance,  Extafy  or 
Rapture  ;  and  heard  behind  him  a  great  Voice  as 
as  of  a  Trumpet  •  and  turning  to  fee  the  Voice 
that  (pake  to  him,  he  faw  /even  golden  Candle- 
flicks,  and  in  the  midft  of  them  One  like  the  Son 
of  Man,  his  dear  Lord  and  Saviour  himfelf5  — 
but  O  how  chang'd  and  more  than  transfigured, 
in  an  ineffable  Glory!  fo  that  iriftead  of  flying 
.into  his  b!eiled  Arms  again,  as  in  the  Days  of 
eld,  he  fell  at  his  Feet  as  dead  !  For  his  Eyes  were 
as  a  Flame  of  Fire,  and  his  Feet  as  if  they  had 
burnt  in  a  Furnace,  and  his  Voice  was  as  the  Sound. 
of  many  Waters  •  and  He  had  in  his  right  Hand 
(even  Stars,  and  out  of  his  Mouth  went  a  fharp 
two-edged  Sworcl^  and  his  Countenance  was  as 
the  Sun  filming  in  its  ftrength  --  No  wonder 
then  if  the  holy  and  moft  favoured  Di/ciple  was 
Jaz,kJ  and  ftruck  dead  before  the  (urprifing  Glo 
ry  /  but  the  Lord  laid  his  Hand  of  Power  and 
Love  upon  him,  which  fuftain'd  and  revived 
him  $  laying  to  him,———"  Fear  not,  I  am  the 
Fivffi  and  the  Lafl  !  I  am  he  that  Hveth  and  was 
dead  •  and  behold  I  am  alive  for  evermore  ^  Awen, 
and  ba-vt  the  Key  of  Hades.  Reviving  JfW,  which 

is 


'Angels  of  the  Churches'.  5 

is  Life  from  the  Dead  to  Ton  this  Day,  bereaved 
of  your  Elder  Pajlor  !  the  Lives  of  all  his 
faithful  Minlfters,  and  of  all  his  Saints,  thro' all 
his  Churches,  are  in  the  right  Hand  ot  the  rlfc# 
and  living  JESUS. 

And  now  my  Text  brings  us  to  the  Myflery  of 
the  leven  Stars,  and  of  the  feven  golden  Candle- 
flicks  j  the  Candlefticks  are  the  Churches,  and  the 
Stars  are  the  fining  and  burning  Lights  fet  up  in 
them  5  Minifters  in  the  Spirit  of  the  Baptift,  as 
he  came  in  the  Spirit  of  Elias,  to  give  Witnefs 
unto  Chrlfl  the  Sun  of  Righteoufnefs  :  We  preach 
Hint  the  trueLlght  ;  and  his  Word  which  is  theLlght 
that  fiimth  In  a  dark  World. 

Now  thefe  Stars,  thefe  Minifars  of  the  Word, 
are  called  ANGELS,  the  Angek  of  the  Churches ; 
which  is  to  fay,  the  MeJJcvgers  of  the  Lord  of  Hofts 
unto  them,  bringing  his  Word  of  Truth  and  Life, 
the  Light  of  1  be  Knowledge  of  the  Glory  of  God  in  the 
Face  of  Jefus  Chrlft.  This  Light  of  God  in  'em 
and  on  7em,  which  makes  them  fhine  on  and  give 
Light  to  others,  both  makes  'em  Stars,  and  (what 
is  more  than  Stars  )  it  makes  'em  Angels. 

It  is  this  lajt  Word  only  that  I  fliall  now  at 
tempt  to  explain  and  illuftrate  to  You,  and  fo  the 
My  fiery  and  Dottrlne  before  us  is, 

DOCTRINE. 

fc  That  the  qualified  faithful  Minifters  of  the 
Gofpcl,  and  Taflors  of  the  Churches  of  our 
LORD  JESUS,  are  in  his  Sight,  and  ought  to 
be  efteemed  by  #/,  as  his  ANGELS  to  them; 

You 


4  Faithful  Pajtort 

You  will  fay,  This  is  a  high  Style  indeed  /  and 
founds  much  too  high,  if  the  LORD  Himfelf  had 
not  given  it,  for  any  of  the  fintul  mortal  Sons 
of  Men.  For  what  a  Soleclfm  were  it  to  (peak 
of  an  Infirm  imperfect  Angel  !  of  a  dying  Or  ! 

dead  Angel  ! But    it   is  the  Soul   that  is  the 

Angel,  in  the  Body  or  out  of  the  Body  /  And 
as  it  is  eafy  to  the  Grace  of  God  to  make  fome 
Perfons  Angelical  in  this  mortal  State,  fo  if  He 
pleafe  to  call  them  Angels  in  Flefh,  who  fhall 
prefutnc  to  difallow  the  Style  ?  No  Angel  in 
Heaven  will  find  fault  with  it,  and  no  Man  on 
Earth  may, 

Man  in  his  firft  and  beft  State  was  made  lower 
than  Angels,  and  but  a  little  lower  5*  which  is  a 
Crown  of  Glory  and  Honour  put  on  him,  Pfalm  viii, 
y  :  but  how  far  is  he  funk  be]ow  it  by  his  Sin  ? 
Who  (hall  put  him  again  as  among  the  Celefiial 
Spirits  ?  The  beft  of  Saints  that  ever  have  been 
in  the  Church  of  God,  (  Abraham,*  Mofes,  Elias, 
Daniel  or  the  Baptift  )  what  a  poor  kind  of  An 
gels  were  the  Holy  M*n  while  in  the  Body  ?  in 
Modks  of  Sin  and  Death  !  of  like  Infirmities  and 
Pa/ions  as  other  Men  !  weak  and  weary  Angels  ! 
diftemper'd;  dlfeafed  and  in  Deaths  often  /  fick, 
and  in  Pain,  and  under  fpiritual  Diforders  and 
Maladies  .'  Angels  that  were  fubjed  to  Grief 
and  Shame  and  Fear  \  with  Flefh  about  'em 
Ittfting  avalnft  the  Spirit !  Paul  himfelf  was  but  fuck 
an  -Anfd-\  Angels  approved  in  Patience,  Afflictions, 
Neceilities  and  Diftreflcs  '  ||  hungry  and  thirfty 
and  naked  Angels  / 


Afts  xiv.' f  5.    Jam.  v.  17.     Rom.  vii,  24.  Gal,  V. 
17,    2  Cor.  xi  27.    Matth,  viii.  20. 

But 


'Angtls  of  the  Churchei.  f 

But  was  not  the  LORD  Himfelf,  the  Lord  of 
all  Angels,  once  in  like  Circumftances  in  cur 
Nature  •  Sin  only  excepted  ?  The  Angel  of  the 
Covenant  Himfelf  /  the  Angel  of  Inter cejjion,  now 
before  the  Golden  Altar,  in  the  Holitf,  p;efent> 

ing  our  Prayers,  Revel,  viii.  3,  4.  Why  them 

may  not  Jbofe  for  whom  He  died,  and  is  making 
Interceffion,  be  called  by  Him  his  Angels  in  his 
Church  on  Earth  ?  tho'  they  live  here  repent 
ing  and  dying  daily,  wreftling  with  Flefti  and 
Blood  and  fpiritual  Wickednejjes,  and  thro'  Death 
parting  to  Incorrupiion. 

Yea,  that  which  puts  the  Crown  of  Angels  on 

them  is  their  dying  ivdl  \    the  crowning  Vittory  is 

6?er   the  laft   Enemy  I    as   the  Beggar  died,  and 

Angels  carried  him  to  Abrahams  Bofom,  to  their 

,%  own  Paradife  !    and  fo  they  buried  the  Body  of 

Mofes,  after  (  as  the  Jews  have  been  pleas'd  to 

.v  fay  )  they  had  kifsd  awty  his  Soul  :•         for  He 

had  been  an  Angel  of  a  Man,  both  in  the  Sight 

of  God  and  of  his  People,  long  before. 

Yet  far  would  it  have  been  from  Mofes,  or  any 
of  the  following.  Propkets,  Apo flics  or  Evangelifts, 
to  have  taken  to  Themfelves  this  Heavenly  Style, 
if  CHRIST  had  not  put  it  on  them,  He  is  the 
Fountain  of  fpiritual  Honour,  t  "  HEAD  over  all 
things  to  the  'church,  and  makes  whom  he  will 
Kings  and  Triefts  and  Angels  unto  God  :  Nay  this 
Honour  have  all  the  Saints  !  pralfe  ye  the  Lord. 

It  is  not  to  elate  or  puff  up  j  God  forbid  it  I 
but  to  admonijli  us  of  our  Duty,  which  ever  rifes 


t  Eph,  i,  22,    Revel  L  d« 

B  wich 


6  faithful  T  aft  or* 

with  Dignity  ;  what  manner  of 'Perfons  we 
and  ought  to  be,  in  Heavenly  Temper  aadCon- 
verfation,  as  Citizens  of  the  Sion  above.  Philip, 
in-.  20.  And  if  we  can  but  think  and  (peak 
and  live  as  singels  in  the  Church  on  Earth.,  we 
may  leave  our  going  Spirits  at  Death  to  the  Care 
of  real  Angels,  and  the  Remains  of  a  Stephen  to 
devout  Men  to  take  up  (  as  they  lately  did  your 
Thachers  )  and  carry  to  its  Grave  as  Angel's-dup  ! 
the  Duft  of  GoU,  from  the  Candlefllck  in  which 
it  once  glitter' d. 

And  fo  I  return  to  the  MINISTER  and  PASTOR 
in  fpecial,  as  my  Text  requires,  and  alfo  the  fad 
Occafion  of  my  <uifitlng  You,  at  your  Defire,  this 
mournful  Day,  which  my  Text  would  turn  into  a 
joyous  one. 

L  Mlnlfters  are  the  Meffengers  ofChrift  unto  his 
People,  and  therefore  Angels  of  the  Churches.  For 
what  is  the  plain  English  of  the  Word  ANGELJ 
but  a  MeJJenger,  or  One  fent  ?  Angels  are  Mef- 
fengers  from  Heaven  to  Earth,  and  io  are  Prophets, 
Apoftles  and  Evavgelifts,  Pajtors  and  Teachers,  the 
MeJJengers  of  the  Lord  of  Hofts,>  Mai.  ii.  7.  The 
Baftift  was  fuch  an  Angel  of  God,  of  whom  we 
read,  *  Behold  I  fend  my  MeJJenger  !  Angels  de- 
fire  to  go  on  fuch  MlJJions,  tvtt\  Gabriel  Himfelf ; 
and  he  flew  fwiftty  to  Daniel  and  Zecharlah  and 
the  bleffed  Virgin,  with  the  glad  Tydings  of  Salva 
tion.  ||.  God's  MiJJlon  makes  an  Angel  of  Light, 
whomfoever  He  fends  •  and  the  Mejjenger  is  to 
be  received  even  as  Gabriel  from  the  Prefence  of 


Mai.  iii.  r.   iv.  J.    Mark  i.  2.    Luke  5. 7$.  Vii.  27, 
Dan,  ix.  21.    Luke  I  ip>a<5. 

God,- 


r Angels  of  the  Churches.  7 

God.  An  Eglon  himfelf  will  own  this,  who 
arofe  out  of  his  Seat,  when  Ehud  faid  to  him,  "  I 
lave  a  Meffage  from  God  unto  thee,  Judges  iii.  20. 
How  much  more  will  the  Churches  of  Chrifl  re 
verently  own  his  Minifters  as  his  Angels  to  them? 
Gal.  iv.  14.  Te  received  me  as  an  Angel  of  God,  even 
as  Jefus  Chrifl. 

And  have  not  Tou  had  your  Meffen^ers^  my  Bre 
thren,  Men  of  a  thoufand  !  was  not  your  deceafed 
Pa/hr  fuch  a  Mejjenger  from  God  unto  You  ? 
did  He  not  bring  you  the  Lord's  Mejjagcs  in  a  fo- 
lemn  manner  ?  with  the  Gravity  and  Authority  o£ 
an  Angel  !  ufed  be  any  Ligbtnefs  ?  Spake  he  not 
as  the  Oracles  or  the  GREAT  GOD  ?  that  was  the 
glorious  and  fearful  Name  in  his  Lips,  as  often  as 
you  heard  him  from  the  Pulpit ;  the  Great  God  ! 
the  Great  God  !  and  how  greatly  did  he  pronounce 
it !  Striking  every  One  that  heard  Him  with  a 
facred  Reverence  and  Fear  I  and  this  was  his  Man 
ner  from  his  Toutb,  from  his  very  frfl  publick 
facred  Exercifes :  I  think  that  I  never  heard  the 
Name  of  God  pronounced  Great,  more  than  in 
his  praying  and  preaching,,  Accordingly 

he  commanded  "the  Ears  and  Confciences  of  his 
Hearers  more  than  many  a  divine  Teacher.  '  He 
was  bold,  and  took  on  him  Authority,  in  his 
Mafter's  Name,  Worftiip,  Truth  and  Laws.  He 
(  could  reprove,  rebuke  and  exhort  for  his  Will 
and  Glory,  in  a  vehement  manner,  fathetick  and 
ftriking.— —  Jofoua  was  fuch  an  Angel  &  Ifrael, 
under  the  Confcience  of  the  Charge  given  him  j 
*'  Only  be  thdu  Jtrong  and  very  courageous  !  and  after 
his  Death  came  the  Lord  himlelt,  in  the  Form  of 
an  Ang si,  reproving  the  People  at  Bochim  :  Judges 
ii.  2,  But  ye  have  not  obeyed  my  Voice,  why  have  ye 
done  this  ?  Such  a  Witnefr,  Leader  and  Comm*n~ 
B  2.  tier 


8  Faltlful  Tajlors 

Jer  under  CHRIST,  fuch  a  Monger  from  Heaven^ 
was  your  Thatcher  to  You, 

II.  Mlniflers  are  yet  with  greater  Propriety 
the  Angel*  of  the  Churches,  becaufe  fent  to 
wlnifter  unto  the  Heirs  of  Salvation.  This  is  an 
eminent  Cbarathr  of  the  Angels  of  God,  Heb. 
i.  14.  Are  they  not  miriiftring  Spirits,  fent  forth  to 
winifter  for  them  -who  fyall  he  Heirs  of  Salvation  ? 
And  what,  more  or  lefs  than  this,  is  the  Office 
and  Work  of  Ministers  ?  A&s  xri,  17.  They  ar? 
the  Servants  of  the  Aloft  High  Qod^  -who  frew  us  the 
Way  of  Salvation* 

''         " 


ge 
E 


Abraham  was  vifited  by  the  Lord  and  his  An- 
els  as  an  Heir  of  Salvation.  He  fojournd  on 
arth  as  in  a  ftrange  Land,  looking  for  a  better 
Country,  which  is  the  Heavenly,  The  Lord  there 
fore  came  down  from  Heaven  to  his  humble 
Tent.  He  fent  his  An^tls  that  Day  to  ftngle  out 
Lot  in  Sodom,  and  fave  his  Houfe.  Afterward 
they  attended  Jacob  out  and  home,  for  he  inhe* 
nted  the  Promitc  ;  He  faw  ?em  on  the  Ladder  as 
he  went  out,  and  Hefts  of  ?em  about  him  on  his 
Return.  And  all  the  little  Ones  of  Cbrift  to  this 
Day  have  their  Angels  that  behold  his  Face  on 
High,  and  are  on  the  Wing  to  ferve  them  for 
ftfiv  fake. 

Now,  like  Love  and  Care  for  the  precioqs 
Souls  committed  to  them,  is  the  bounden  Duty 
and  natural  Temper  (  thro'  Grace  )  of  a  faithful 
Pastor.  Such  an  Angel  was  Timothy,  of  whom 
faid  the  Apoflley  Philip,  it.  20.  I  have  no  Manlike* 
winded,  -who  will  paturallj  care  fir  your  Swk. 

So 


'Angels  of  the  Gkurcbesl  9 

So  natural  was  the  Care  of  yours  become,  thro* 
Grace,  to  your  dear  Taftor  *.  He  traveled  in 
Birth  to  fee  Cbrift  formed  in  Tou,  and  you  born  to 
God.  As  a  Nurfe  cberijhetb  her  Children,  he  was 
gentle  among  Tou  Becaufe  you  were  dear  to  him, 
and  being  affectionately  dejlrous  of  you,  he  was 
willing  to  have  imparted  bis  ownSoul  with  the  Gofpel. 
Was  it  not  his  vifible  Concern  that  he  might 
.  both  fave  Himfelf  and  them  that  heard  him  ?  And 
as  there  is  Joy  in  Heaven  among  the  Angels  of  God 
over  one  Sinner  that  repenteth,  fo  was  his  'Joy  herein 
fulfilled,  if  he  might  favea  Soul  from  Detth,  and 
cover  a  multitude  of  Sins.  Had  the  LORD  put  it 
to  your  Peter,  as  he  did  to  the  great  Apojlle  of 
fiis  Name  ;  "  Loveft  thou  me  ?  and  'wilt  thou  feed 
my  Sheep  and  Lambs  ?  he  would  have  anfwered 
with  his  Truth,  Fear  and  Fervency  ,•  "  Tea  Lord ! 
Jhou  knoweft  all  things,  thou  knoweft  that  I  love 
Thee  and  them  j  to  minifter  unto  Thee  for  their 
Salvation; 

III.  Minifters  ftiould  be  as  Angels  for  Light 
find  Knowledge,  Underftanding  and  Wifdom  ;  more 
efpecially  in  the  Mjftery  of  the  Father  and  of 
Gbrift. 

c*  Wife  as  an  Angel  of  Gcd,  and  Angtls  of  Light, 
is  the  known  Language  of  Scripture  f-  The  Fear 
of  the  Lord  is  their  Wifdom  as  well  as  ours  ;  a 
good  Understanding  have  all  they  that  do  his  Gom~ 
mwdments.  The  Knowledge  of  Angell  is 


*  Gal.  iv.  ip.  r  ThelT.  ii.  7,  ?.  i  Tim.  iv.  16* 
Luke  xv.  7,  10.  r  Pet.  iv.  S.  John  xxi.  17.^ 

t  2  Sam.  xiv,  20,  ^  Cor.xi,  14*  Pfal.ciii.ult.  Pan. 
ix.  22, 

cxtial 


io  Faithful  Tajlors 


praftical,  like  that  of  Saints  •  they  excel 
in  hearkning  to  the  Voice  of  God's  Word  "  Wijtr 
Than  Daniel,  was  a  Proverb  among  the  Nations, 
while  he  lived  &  prefided  over  them,and  atter  his 
Deceafe  ;  but  the  Man  Gabriel  was  wifer  than  he  ; 
for  he  came  down  to  give  him  Skill  and  Underftan- 
ding  •  and  he  left  fome  more  Rajs  of  Heavenly 
Light  upon  his  Mind  and  Heart. 

Minijlers  are  Angels  in  being  aft  to  teach  *  ,•  the 
Law  is  to  be  fought  from  their  Lips  ;  they  need 
the  Tongues  of  Angel^  the  Tongue  of  the  Learned, 
to  fpeak  in  Seafin  to  'weary  Souls  :  Angels  have 
fuch  Tongues,  as  Hagar  found,  and  anfwer  d  — 
"  Thcu  Lord  fee  ft  me  /—The  Urim  always  be 
longed  to  the  Vrieftboody  and  it  fliines  more  and 
more  under  the  Go/pel,  toward  the  ferfett  Day. 
Heavenly  Knowledge  is  the  requifite  Ornament, 
and  the  neceflary  Furniture  of  a  Go/pel  Minifter  : 
Ignorance  is  Darknefs  when  we  fpeak  of  Souls. 

But  the  Knowledge  that  eminently  becomes  tha 
Minifters  ofChrift,  and  makes  ?em  like  the  Angels, 
is  a  clear  Underftanding  in  the  Myfteries  and 
Doftrines  of  Salvation  by  Him.  As  we  read  of 
the  Cbertibims  of  Glory  over  the  Mercy-Seat,  with 
their  Faces  bowed  and  Eyes  fixed  down  upon  it  ; 
£xod.  xxv.  17.  The  Gofpel  of  which  we  have, 
I.  Per.  i.  12.  "  Which  'things  the  Angels  dejire  to 
look  into  :  fcil.  the  manifold  Wifdom  and  marvel 
ous  Grace  of  God,  in  drift's  taking  our  Nature 
and  not  theirs.  •  The  Minifter  who  has 

well  fiudied  and  preach'd  the  unfeanbable  Riches 


*  r  Tim.  iii.  2.    Malii,  7,    Ifai,  i  4,    Gen.xvl  13 

t.  xxxiil  8, 

of 


rAngtls  of  the  CKUfcteii  it 

cf  Chrift,  fhincs  as  an  Angel  in  the  Churches. 
Blelled  Paul  was  fuch  a  Cherub  of  Glory  in  the 
Chriftian  Church  t  :  "  I  dtfoe,  fatd  he,  to  knew 
nothing  among  you  fa<ve  Jefus  Cwift  and  Him  cru 
cified  •  "  And  to  make  all  Men  know  what  Is  the 
Fcllowfhip  of  the  Myftery,  that  hath  been  bid  In  G*l 
from  the  Beginning  of  the  WorU  :  and  again,  "  that 
your  Hearts  may  be  comforted  -with  the  Riches  of  the 
full  Ajjurance  of  Understanding,  to  the  Acknowledg 
ment  of  the  My  fiery  ef  God,  and  of  the  Father  and 
Ckrift ;  in  whom  are  hid  all  the  Treasures  of  Wifdom 
and  Knowledge* 

So  Angels  above,  and  thofe  below,  ftudy  and 
proclaim  the  Glories  of  free  Grace  in  Cbritt  Jefus 
our  Lord.  And  thus  did  our  Mr  Thacher  ;  Ton 
are  Witnefles  and  Go^alfo.  The  Wifdom  of  God 
was  in  Him,  he  was  wife  to  Salvation,  and  to  win 
Souls  :  A  Scribe  inftrufted,  and  inftru&ing  others^ 
to  the  Kingdom  of  God  :  a  judicious  Divine  and 
ftrong  in  the  Do&rines  of  Grace ;  able  and  ready 
to  advife  and  dired  Souls  in  the  Way  of  Life. 
He  could  as  feelingly  as  any  Man  adore  the  dif- 
tinguifliing  Mercy  of  God  in  putting  him  into 
the  Miniftry,  and  counting  him  faithful :  "  That  to 
me,  the  leaft  of  all  Saints,  this  Grace  Jhould  be  given , 
to  preach  among  you  the  unsearchable  Riches  a£Cbrift  / 
Eph.  iii.  8.  He  is  gone  to  join  the  Multitude  of 
the  Heavenly  Hofi  in  that  &oxology,  Luke  ii.  14, 
"  Glory  unto  God  in  the  Highejl,  en  Earth  Peace,  Good* 
will  towards  Men. 

IV.  Mintfters  fhould  be  'Angels  for  Purity,  Sanc 
tity  and  Holinejs;  and  for  Zeal  in  the  Gaufe  of 


.  Cor,  ii,  2,    EpW.  iii,  9,    Cpl,  u.  ^>  3, 4. 

Goi 


i£  Faithful  Pa/lots 

GOD  and   Godlinefs  ;  for  his  Truths  and 

Kingdom  and  Interejt  on  Earth. 

Holinefs  {hows  the  Angd  more  than  *//  Know- 
ledge  ,  and  fo  it  doth  the  Mlnlfter  and  P*/?*r  in 
the  Church.  Without  this,  has  our  Saviour  laid, 
the  Light  that  is  In  you  is  Darknefi,  and  how  great 
is  that  Darknefs  ?  Matth.  vi  23.  Holinefs  is  moft 
of  all  the  Light  of  Heaven ;  God  is  infinitely  Holy, 
Christ  is  the  Holy  One  of  God,  and  Angels  are  in 
his  Likenejs  holy,  in  all  their  Worlhip  and  Obe 
dience.  Their  Parity  is  without  a  Stain,  in  high 
Perfection,  and  gives  ?em  their  Glory  and  Blifs  for 
evermore. 

The  Style  of  the  Angels  of  God  is  taken  from 
their  Sanftity  •  and  fo  is  that  of  Ministers  on 
Earth  t-  Even  the  Conn  of  Nebuchadnezzar  knew 
this  before  the  Inftru&ions  of  Daniel :  "  I  fau>  a 
Holy  One  come  down  from  Heaven,  faid  the  King> 
relating  his  Vifions  on  his  Bed.  But  our  Lord 
Jefus  has  confirmed  the  Style  unto  us,  in  thatgra,- 
cious  Promife,  "The  Son  of  Man  {ball  come  In  bis 
Glory,  with  all  his  holy  Angels.  An  unholy  Angel  is 
a  Devil.  Angels  and  Saints  are  reprefented  in 
white  Robes,  and  fuch  were  of  old  thofe  of  the 
Triesthotd  ;  to  fignify  a  Profcffion  of  and  Obliga 
tion  unto  fingular  Purity  and  Holinefs.  St.  Paul 
teaches  the  Minister  how  to  become  an  Angel  in 
the  Church ,-  i  Tim.  vi,  u.  "Ttiu  O  Man  of  God, 
follow  after  Rigkteoufnefs,  Godlinefa  &c.  And  again, 
"  Ee  thou  an  Example  of  the  Believers  In  Worl,  In 
Converfation>  In  Charity,  In  Spirit,  in  Faith,  in  Purity, 


f  Dan  iv,  13,  Mat,  xxv,  31.  r.Tiin.  iv,  12,  i.Thef. 

ii,  10. 

Such 

- 


Angels  of  the  Churches.  x  \ 

Such  was  your  Tkacher  among  YOU,  thro'  t\i$ 
Grace  given  him  from  on  High.  Much  of  the 
Holincfs  ofChrift,  and  of  Angelical  Sanctity  was  irj 
Him.  He  was  a  Watcher  and  a  holy  One  among 
us  in  his  Meafure  ;  which  was  an  Abundance  ofths 
Gift  of  Rlghteoufnefi  ;  like  Phlneas  z,ealottt  for  his 
God,  and  as  Ellas  jealous  for  the  Lord  of  Hy/l's. 
Like  the  Angel  of  the  Lord,  he  could  have  wltb- 
flood  Balaam  in  his  Way  ;  valiant  for  the 
and  refolute  in  the  Caufe  of  Piety. 


Angels  are  called  Straf  kirns  from  their 
with  holy  Zeal.  YourThacher  was  fuch  a  Sp?V;V 
F/rfwe  <?/  2w,  in  the  Service  of  his  Ged,  and  in 
ading  for  his  Glory.  |)  The  Baptift  was  fuch  3 
Burning  Light,  a  flaming  Miniftcr  j  "  O  Genera*- 
tlon  of  yiperSj  who  hath  warned  yoii  to  five  from 
the  Wrath  to  come  ?  bring  forth  therefore  Faults  meet 
for  Repentance.  Peter  was  another  •  He  faeW  and 
/mote  in  the  Caufe  of  Cbrift,  till  he  was  bid  to 
put  up  his  Sword  Stephen  fpake  to  the  Council  wich 
the  Face  and  Ardor  of  an  Angel  $  and  Epapbrat 
had  a  great  Zeal  for  the  Coloflians,  labouring  fer- 
v«i^/y  in  Prayer  for  them.  But  He  was  wort  than 
an  Angel,  of  Whom  we  read,  "  the  Zeal  of  thy 
Houfe  hath  eaten  m%  up* 

Light  and  Heat  go  together  in  tie  Kingdom  of 
Nature  and  of  Grace,  Fervour  in  the  Soul  of 
Man  produces  Attlvity  in  his  Life,  and  that  3- 
gain  cherifties  and  increafes  Fervour* 


V-  Mlnlfters  ftiould  be  \i^t  Angels  for  Spirit*  ?//- 
and  z  heavenly  Mind.     Such  their  Temper,  and 


Mat  Hi,  7.  John  ^Viii,- 1  if.   A<5&  vi,  15,   C . 
|oha  ii.  17, 

C         ,        t>sruc:: 


14  Faithful  Tajlors 

perpetual  Pkafure  ;  their  Heart  and  Work,  their 
Imploy  and  Joys,  all  fpiritual.  Heaven  is  there 
fore  their  Dwelling-flaw.  They  reft  not  Day  or 
Night,  faying,  "  Holy,  Holy,  Holy,  Lord  God 
Almighty  !  which  art  and  wait  and  art  to  come, 
Revel.,  iv.  * 


So  Mlnifters  are  to  lead  and  continue  in  the 
flip  of  God  with  facred  Pleafure  ;  the  Mouth  of 
others  to  God,  and  of  God  to  them,  out  of  the 
Abundance,  of  their  Heart  to  both.  St.  Paul  was 
fuch  an  Angel  to  the  Churches,  inceflant  in 
Prayers  for  them,  and  in  his  high  Devotions  •  and 
as  a  iingutar  Reward  hereof,  he  was  caught  up  to 
Heaven  *  ^  ^whether  In  the  Body,  er  out  of  it,  he  could 
not  tell.  Appollos  was  like  him,  "  mighty  In  the 
Scriptures,  fervent  In  Spirit,  And  teaching  diligently 
the  Things  of  God. 

The  Heavenly  Minifter  lives  like  Mojes  in  the 
Mount  t  has  Mread  there  which  the  World  knows 
not  of,  his  Diet  is  on  the  Manna  of  Angels,,  Bread 
from  Heaven  ;  and  his  Meat  and  Drink  (hould  be 
(  in  Conformity  to  Chrifl  his  Mafler  )  to  do  the 
Witt  of  God,  and  foijti  his  WorL  His  Inter  eft  is  in 
Heaven,  his  Acquaintance  there,  his  Heart  and 
Jreajure  there  and  his  Life  is  hid  -with  Chrift  In 
Cod  within  rhe  Vail  He  would  be  accurate  in  his 
Devotions  and  Obedience,  as  are  the  Angels  • 
"  doing  the  Will  of  God  on  Earth  as  it  Is  done  above* 
He  would  be  reverend  and  earnejt  in  Duty  and 
Service,-  would  find  Wings  to  fly,  as  well  as  Feet 
to  run  ,-  "  run  and  return  as  the  Flafl)  of  Lightning  ! 


*  2  Cor.  xii.  2,  4.    A6ls  xviii.  25.    John  iv.  32,  34. 
Col,  iii,  3,    Ezek,  i,  14.    Ifai,  xi.  31. 


s  f 

Angels  of  the  Churchei.  iy 

to  the  Angels  are   reprefented,  and  from  their 
sigllity  are  called  Chtrubim. 

Angels  in  Flefo  can  "t  attain  this  j-  it  is  too 
wonderful  and  high  for  them  j  they  foon  flag  and 
tire  in  their  Work  j  ev*n  the  Touths  faint  and  are 
•weary  ,  how  much  more  the  ^(g^  in  their  Decays  ? 
tho7  not  weary  of  it  ;  Yet  is  there  a  Tromlfe  of 
Angelical  Strength  and  Vigour  to  all  that  wait  on 
the  Lord  ;  c  They  fa  all  renew  their  Strength,  mount 
up  with  Wings  as  -Eagles  ,  run  and  not  be  weary^  walk 
a  nd  not  faint, 

How  fpiritual  and  rais'd  was  Mr.  Thacher  in 
his  publick  Devotions  ?  more  efpecially  in  the 
Duty  of  PRAYER  !  that  was  his  Gift  and  Element  / 
then  he  breach  d  his  native  Air!  then  his  Afttbma 
left  him  1  he  foard  up  as  on  Eagles  Wings,  and 
with  its  Eye  he  could  look  into  the  Light  of  the 
Throne  of  the  Majejly  in  the  Heavens  !  He  came 
near  unto  his  Seat,  and  fili'd  his  Mouth  with  Ado 
rations  :  The  nearer  his  Accefs  was  unto  God, 
the  more  awful  was  his  godly  Fear,  and  profound 
his  Reverence  /  like  that  of  the  Celejtial  Spirits, 
Revel.  XV;  4  Who  jhall  not  fear  Thee,  O  Lord,  and 
glorify  thy  Name  t  for  Thou  only  art  holy. 


I  fay  again,  He  was  a  heavenly  Man  in 
He  excelled  in  this  •  in  a  great  Copioufnefs  and 
Solemnity  ;  whether  in  Adoration,  Confeffion, 
Supplication,  Thankfgiving,  Interceffion,  Profef- 
fion  and  Pleadings  before  the  Throne.  He  could 
wreftle  like  an  Ifracl,  and  as  a  Principality  in  the 
heavenly  Places,  having  Power  with  God  and 
from  Him.  How  often  have  you  (ten  him  in  this 
Desk,  as  ic  were  cover  his  Face  and  cry  Holy9  Holy* 
Holy,  before  the  Lord  of  Ho  ft  s  !  many  a  time  mak- 

C  z  ing 


T6  Faithful  Paflors 

ing  your  Hearts  to  move,  ancl  filling  them  with  3 
Smoke  of  fragrant  Incenfe,  Ifai.  vi,  4. 

VI.  Mlnlfters  as  Angds  of  the  Churches  are  to 
yrefide,  rule  and  govern,   with  Meeknefs,  Equity, 
Tendernefs  ;   Benevolence,    Humility  and  Pati 
ence  j  Wifdom  and  Integrity  ,•    by    the  Rules  of 
thi  Kingdom  $  for  the  Glory  of  Cbrtfi  and  tjie  Good 
of  Souls. 


are  <c  Thrones  and  Dominions  and  Towers 
under  GOD,  and  us'd  by  Him3  in  the  Or*»/i  <^/- 
y^Yj  of  Nations  and  Empires,  Scares  and  Provinces, 
as  we  are  led  to  chink  from  the  Prophecies  qf 
Daniel  "\;  and  more  efpccially  muft  we  fuppofe  . 
their  Mlnlftry  in  thoff  of  the  Vifible  Church. 

Bur  leaft  of  all  would  the  true  Mlmflers  ofChrift 
affect  a  Refemblance  of  the  Heavenly  Hierarchy,  in 
re!pe<5l  of  Prehemlnence,  Auchority  or  Dominion  ! 
for  "  we  have  not  Dominion  over  your  Faith  ^  but  are 
l  he  Helpers  of  your  'Joy. 

Yet  Power  is  committed  to  the  Taflors  of  tfie 
Churches  for  their  Order,  Peace,  Edification  and 
Puricy,  for  which  they  can  (how  an  ample  Ccm- 
nnijion,  necdlefs  to  produce  before  Tou,  who  have 
not  fo  learned  Chrijt,  as  not  to  remember  Them 
that  have  the  Rule  over  You,  and  watch  for  ycur 
Souls  and  admonifh  you  •  to'Jubmit  ycurjelvcs  and 
obey  them  in  the  Lord  ;  thac  they  may  give  tbtir 
Account  with  J<y  &  not  withGrief  !  Heb.  xiii.  7,17. 

He  is  the  Angel  of  a  Mlnifttr  in  the  Church  pf 
Chrlft,  Who  in  the  JL6^and  Gentknefs  of  his  Lord, 


f  Daniel  x.  13,  20,    xii.  i.  the 


rAngels  of  the  Churches.  17 

the  Mecknefs  ofWifdom,  behaves  gravely,  humbly 
and  affectionately  in  the  Hcttfe  of  the  Living  God, 
The  Pillar  and  Ground  of  Truth ,  i  Tim.  iii.  I  J  Who 
like  the  Watcher  from  on  High  is  intent  on  his 
Mifflon  and  particular  Charge,  watching  in  all  things 
to  make  full  Proof  of  his  Minlflry  ;  to  prevent  Evil 
and  Sin  all  he  can?  and  promote  all  he  can  what  is 
good  and  holy. 

If  St.  Paul  were  again  in  the  Flejh  juft  fo  would 
he  rule  and  manage  •  exercife  no  other  Jurifdif* 
tlon  nor  affect  any  other  Preheminence9  than  the 
holy  Ends  of  his  Miniftry,  in  the  (awing  Effetts 
of  it,  make  neceflary  to  the  Souls  of  Men  j  their 
j  own  and  thofe  in  Fellowship  with  them.  And  if 
He  were  again  ;to  take  Leave  of  the  Flocks  to  which 
he  had  mmift/ed,  it  would  be  ftill  in  the  fame 
humble  and  endearing  Words,  with  which  he  mel 
ted  the  Elders  at  Ephcfus  :  Afts  xx,  18,  &C,  "  Ye 
"  know  how  I  have  been  among  you  at  ail  Sea- 
u  fons,  ferving  the  Lord  with  all  Humility  of 
cc  Mind,  and  have  kept  back  nothing  that  is  pro- 
'•  fitable  to  you  ^  but  have  {hewed  you  publickly 
cc  and  from  Houfe  to  Houfe,  tcitifyingunto  all 
cc  Repentance  toward  God  and  Faith  toward  our 
cf  Lord  J'fus  Chrift  :  And  now  that  you  are  to 
c;  fee  myFace  no  more?  I  take  you  to  Record  this 
"  Day  that  I  am  pure  from  the  Blood  of  all  Men; 
cc  for  I  have  not  ftiunned  to  declare  unto  you  the 
cc  whole  Council  of  God.  Take  heed  therefore 
u  unto  your  Selves,  and  unto  all  the  Flock  ever 
cc  which  the  Holy  Ghoft  hath  made  you  Biftiops  ; 
"  to  feed  the  Church  of  God  which  He  hath 
"  bought  with  his  own  Blood.  And  now  hre- 
c  thren,  I  commend  you  to  God.,  and  to  the  Word 
u  of  his  Grace,  which  is  able  to  build  you  up, 

"  and 


1  8  Faithful  Paftors 

"  and  to  give  you  an  Inheritance  among  all  them 
"  that  are  fan&ified. 


This  is  the  true  Evangelical,  Chrip-Uke, 
Heal  and  Angelical  Spirit  of  Rue  and  Govern 
ment  in  the  Churches  ;  the  true  Chriftian  Pafto- 
ral  Spirit  and  Regimen.  And  juft  thus  yourTbxcher 
defired  to  be  among  You  and  over  Ton  In  the  Lord, 
and  you  efleemed  him  highly  In  Love  herefor,  while 
he  returned  the  Bowels  of  Love  to  You  and  yours 
for  your  Reverend  Rejpetfs  and  Kindnelfesto  him; 
You  received  him  always  gladly  in  the  Lord,  as  an 
Angel  of  Jefus  Chrift. 

And  now  you  may  be  ready  to  faS  upon  his 
Pifiure  as  I  hold  it  before  you5  and  kifs  it  in  your 
deep  Sorrow  5  "  that  you  muft  fee  his  Face  no  more± 
But  if  this  Face  of  an  Angel  that  I  have  (hewn 
You,  and  you  fee  that  it  is  He  ktmfelf,  will  not 
dry  up  y  out  Tears  for  Him,  and  turn  your  Sor 
row  into  Joy  on  bis  Account  j  tho7  it  open  new 
Sluices  for  your  Selves  and  for  your  Children  ; 
you  would  feem  Infenfibk  indeed,  and  to  have  no 
fflritiial  Senfation  of  things  joyous  or  grievous.—  -« 
But  this  is  far  from  you  :  You  are  true  Mour 
ners,  and  many  of  you  I  doubt  not  fyiritually  fb^ 
amidtt  abundant  Confolation  before  the  Lord.— 
I  have  accordingly  exprefs'd  my  hearty  Sywfatby. 
with  you  on  both  Accounts  j  that  we  may  be  eji- 
fied  together  by  a  mutual  Faith  ;  as  with  refpeft 
unto  the  Dottrines  of  Grace  in  general^  fo  in  the 
Application  of  them,  on  the  prefent  Bereavement 
from  God  upon  you. 


And  now  to  go  into  a  more  enlarged 
tion  of  the  Subject,  than  the  Circumltances  of  a 
particular  Qongregation  led  me  to,  I  would  lay, 

i.  Let 


Angtls  of  the  Qhurchci.  19 

1.  Let  the  Churches  of  Chrift  and  his  Minifters 
be  admomftied  of  that  fpecial  Regtrd  and  Refpe& 
Which  they  owe  unto  the  blejjed  Angels.     There 
is  a  mutual  Relation  between  us  and  Them,  which 
obliges  us  to  honour  them  as  the  Sons   of  God,  we 
know  not  how  far  before  us,  both   in  Order  of 
Nature  and  Time.     We   ftiould  highly  reverence 
pem  for  all  the  Graces  of  God  to  7em  and  in  7em. 
Let  us  realize  their  Prefence  with  us  in  our  holy 
Studies,   fecret   Devotions,  private  Dlfcourfes  with 
Perfons  on  the  Service  of  their  Souls,  and  in  our 
publick   Affemblles  •   and  let   it  be  an  Argument 
with  us  to  be  ferious  and  folemn  in  all,  "  becaufe 
of  the  Angels.     Let  us  defire  to  commend  our  Selves 
to  their  Love  and  Affiftance,  in  our  Meditations, 
Prayers  and  Administrations ,-    and  allb  in  our 
Temptations,  Afflictions  and  dying  Hours.   But: 
however  good  they  are  in  our  Sight,  yea  though 
they  were  to  bring  us  even  the  Revelations   of 
God,  yet  may  we  not  worfbip  'em,  for  they  are  our 
Brethren  and  Fellow-Servants,   that  keep   the  Com 
mandments  of  God  and  the  Teft Imony  of  Jefus  $  Rev. 
xxii.  9. 

2.  Our  Dottrlne  ftiould  comfort,  animate  and  in 
vigorate  Mlnifters  in  their  Work,  and  at  the  fame 
time  greatly  humble  and  abaft  'em  before  God  and 
Man. 

On  the  one  hand  let  us  magnify  our  Office,  and 
take  Pleafure  in  our  high  and  Heavenly  Calling  ; 
as  when  the  Hand  of  the  Angel  couched  Daniel, 
it  fet  him  on  his  Feet,  What  a  Name  is  this  with 
in  God's  Hotife  and  Walls  ?  called  to  be  Angels  ! 
a  Name  meet  to  be  'written  In  Heaven  !  And  what 
a  good  God  do  we  ferve,  who  ralfes  the  poor  out  of 
tks  Dttfl,  to  let  them  among  the  Vrincifalitfa  and 

Powers 


ao  Faithful 

Powers  above,  and  make  them  inherit  the  Tkront 
of  (j  lory, 

It  is  to  encourage  us  in  our  Work,  and  at  the 
fame  Time  lead  us  to  reflect,  how  little  meet  we 
are  to  wear  this  Name,  and  how  aftanid  the  blef- 
fen  Angels  may  well  be  to  own  us,  were  they  not 
Good  like  Chrift  their  Lord  and  ours.  ..  .  -.  Com 
pare  their  Accomplishments  and  Miniftrations  with 
6ur^  and  how  do  we  indeed  walk  as  Men,  and 
below  Angels  !  yet  "  behold  we  take  upon  us  to 
fpeak  to  the  moft  High  God,  who  are  but  Dujt  and 
Jfljes  !  as  Abraham  faid  before  the  Lord,  in  the 
Day  and  Hour  that  his  Angels  had  vifited  him- 
The  beft  of  Prophets  muft  fall  before  the  Mercy- 
Seat,  as  Ifalah  did,  when  he  had  feen  the  Sera* 
fbims  worftiipping  with  cover  d  Faces  :  Ifaiah  vi- 
y.  cc  Then  faid  I,  Wo  is  me,  for  I  am  undone;  be- 
caufe  lam  a  Man  of  unclean  Lips,  and  I  dwell  among 
a  People  of  unclean  Lips.*  .  c  Lord  Jefut,  fend 
"  fome  heavenly  Seraph,  with  a  Coal  from  thy  Al- 
"  tar,,  to  touch  my  Heart  and  Lips  j  that  my  Ini- 
"  quity  may  be 'taken  away  and  my  Sin  purged. 

Ah  !  were  we  but  thus  humbled,  we  fhould  be 
alfo  thereby  greatly  qukkned  and  excited,  to  ap« 
frove  our  Selves  unto  God  and  his  People,  as  An 
gels  in  his  Church.  Let  us  feel  this  faared  hea 
venly  Ambition,  fince  God  calls  us  to  it.  Afplre 
to  walk  worthy  of  the  Vocation.  Let  the  Character 
of  the  Chrlftlan  Bifoop  make  us  emulate  that  of  An- 
gels  themleivcs  :  Titus  i.  7,  8,  9.  For  a  Bifhop  mufi 
be  blamelefs,  as  a  Steward  of  God  $  not  f elf -willed, 
not  foon  angry,  not  given  to  Wine,  no  Striker,  not 
given  to  filthy  Lucre  •  but  a  lover  of  Hofyltallty,  a 
lover  of  good  Men,  fober,  juft>  holy,  temper  ate,  holding 
the  faithful  Word)  &c.  z.  Tim.  ii,  24.  And  the 

Servant 


'Angels  of  tie  Churches.  21 

Servant  of  the  Lord  mujl  not  ftriw,  bat  be  genthw- 
t«  all  Men,  aft  to  teach,  in  Meeknefs  inffirutllng  tbofe 
that  oppofe  tbemfelvei,  &c.  What  but  the  Idea  of 
Michael,  the  Arch-Angel,  arifes  in  our  Minds,  up 
on  our  reading  theft  Words  ?  in  his  "  Contending 
with  the  Devil  about  the  Body  ofMofes,  not  daring 
or  inclining  to  bring  a  railing  Accufativn  againit 
him. 

O  that  we  could  be  in  any  manner  as  the  An 
gels  of  God  for  Knowledge,  Sanftity,  Devotion, 
Charity,  Humility,  in  every  Excellency  /  what- 
loever  things  are  juft,  fare,  Uvtlj  and  of  good  Re- 
fort  j  every  Vtrtut  andPraffe !  more  efpecially  in 
holy  Zeal  and  Activity  in  ferving  and  praifing 
God.  Let  us  in  Spirit  be  daily  amending  to  the 
Son  of  M~t  in  Heaven.  Let  us  be  in  the  Mount 
with  God  often,  preparing  for  the  Prefence  and 
Vtjion  of  God  for  evermore.  Let  us  be  pleafant 
and  joyful  in  our  Lord's  Work.  Let  us  be  glad 
to  lerve  the  poor  Members  of  Jefus  Cbrifi  in  their 
Mtly  Needs,  Sickneffes  and  Sorrows,  but  much 
more  in  their  fpiritual  Wants,  Griefs,  Fears, Temp 
tations  and  Diftreffes. 

Thus  Mini/fers  have  been  cL  rf'd  before  GOB 
and  his  EleSl  Angels,  to  be  like  'em  here,  that  they 
may  be  with  them  for  ever.  And  could  we  rea 
lty  the  Charge  coming  from  the  Mouth  of  the  Son 
•fMa»,  in  theMidfl  of  the  Golden  CanJIeftieks,  in 

»at  tremendous  Glory  wherein  John  faw  Him  in 
our  Context,  it  would  ftrike  us  dead  at  his  Feet: 
isuc  at  leaft  let  us  be  fouck  with  Jacob's  holy 
vrctdi  on  his  feeing  the  Ladder  from  Heaven  to 
tarth,  with  the  Angels  of  God  upon  it ;  "  How 
dreadful  u  this  Place  <  it  is  no  other  than  the  Houfe 
»/  *%  *ndtke  Catt  of  Heaven. 

D  3.  As 


22  Faithful  Paftors 

3.  As  here  is  great  Honour  put  upon  tht  faith* 
ful  Minifltrs  of  Chrift,  and  on  his  holy  Churches  ; 
or  rather  only  on  the  Free  Grace  of  God  to   ?em 
and  in  ?em  •    fo  what  Condemnation  and  Confufton 
belongs  to  wicked  and  ungodly  Minifters,  and  unto 
like  'Prof effort  in  all  the  Churches  of  the  Saints  ^ 
who  are  carthlj,  fenfual,  devilifo   •  Enemies  to  the 
Crofs  ofChrift,   and  as  contrary  to  Him  and  his 
Angels  as  Darknefs  to  Light,  as  Belial  to   the  Hea 
venly  Hofl.     So,  as  the  Afoftle  teaches  us,   "  Sa- 
tan  hlmfelfis  transformed  into  an  Angel   of  Light  • 
therefore  It  Is  no  great  thing   if  his  Minifters  alfo  be 
transformed  as  the  Minifters  of  Rlghteoufnefs  •  whofe 
End  flwll  be  according  to  their  Works,   2  Cor.  xif 
14,  ij. 

4.  Here  is  a  fingular  Dlrettion,  with  a  mighty 
Motive,  to  the  Candidates  for  the  Evangelical  Mi- 
nlflry  j  with  what  Aims  and  Hopes,  with  what 
Humility,  Fear  and  Prayer,  they  ly  at  the  Foot  of 
Grace  for  the  requifice  Gifts  and  Graces,  and  En 
dowments  from  on  High,  to  their  foining  one  Day 
among  the  Angels  of  the  Churches.  Of  the  Fulnefs 
that  is  in  Chrift  they  muft  feek  and  Grace  for  Grace  ! 
and  "  O  Lord,  our  Lord,  how  excellent  is  thy  Name 
in  aU  the  Earth,  'who  haft  fet  thy  Glory  above  the  Hea 
vens  j  and  out  of  the  Mouth  of  Babes  and  Sucklings 
ordaineft  Strength  I  Pfal.  viii.  i,  ^. 

5-;  Here  is  fpecial  Direction  unto  Churches  in 
their  Eleflhn  of  Perfons  into  the  Pafloral  Office 
over  them.  May  God  dire<9:  them  always  unto 
Such,  as  they  truly  hope  will  moft  {bine  in  the 
Gifts  and  Graces  of  Angels  among  them  j  and 
ever  behave  toward  them  with  Angelical Hotinef*3 
Wtfdom,  Benevolence  and  Care  for  their  Souls. 

6.  And 


Angels  of  tie  Churches*.  2; 

6.  And  let  a  Pe0p/e  fo  favoured  of 'God  fee  how 
they  ought  to  receive  and  entertain  the  MeJJagtt 
bro't  them    from  God  by  their  MinVhrs  :   Even 
as  the  Afian  Churches  did,  and  thofe  of  Galatiq^ 
who  notwithstanding  the  Temptations  in   their  Teach- 
crs  Fltjh  (  whatever  they  were  )  defyiid  them  not, 
but  accounted  ot  ?cm  and  jubmitted  themfelves  as 
unto  the    Angels  of  God.       Or  if    the  Angel 
vifit  you  in  your  Tent  or  Field,  as  fometimes  A- 
braham,  GiJeon,  Manoah  and  Mary  were  gracioully 
vifited,  receive  Him  gladly  as  the  Heavenly  Viji- 
tors  of  old  were  welcomed,  and  hearknedto. 

7.  But  what  muft  we  fay  then  unto  Thofe  who 
have  fat  long  under  the  Minipry  of  an  Angel,  and 
their  Hearts  have  not  been  touched,  affetted,  cnlight- 
ned  and   fet  a  burning  within  them  \    "  Neither 
would  they  be  per  (waded  (  they  fhould  fear  )  tho  one 
came  from  the  Dead  !   altho'  a  Lazarus  were  fent 
down  to  them  from  the  Bofom  of  Abraham  *. 

YourPaftors,  as  they  have  received  Mercy,  have 
not  fainted  $  but  by  Manifeftation  of  the  Truth  have 
commended  Themfelves  to  your  Consciences  in  the  Sight 
of  God!  a  far  more  proper  Means,  ordained  by 
God,  for  yeur  Con<verfion  and  Salvation,  than  any 
Angels  Defcent  from  the  Skies  in  a  luminous  Form. 
But  if  our  Goffel  be  hid  (as  we  are  awfully  admo- 
nifoed  from  God  )  it  is  bid  to  them  that  are  loft  ; 
in  whom  the  God  of  this  World  (  Satan,  the  fallen 
Angely  the  Angel  of  the  boltomlefs  Pit  )has  blinded 
their  Minds,  left  the  Light  of  the  glorious  Gof- 
pel  of  chrift,  who  is  the  Imagt  o^  the  Invifible 
God  ftiould  jhine  into  them  (j. ' 


Luke  xYl  31,    I]  2  Cor.  iv.  2,  3, 4* 

D  z  To 


24  Faithful  Pa/fors 

To  draw  unto  a  Clofy 

8.  We  learn  from  all  that  has  been  faid,  what  a 
forroivful  Senfe  we  ought  to  have  of  the  Dectafe  of 
faithful  Minifters  and  Paflors,  who  have  been  An- 
gels  of  Men  among  us.— —And  therefore  learn 
your  prclent  Duty,  O  Flock  of  Chrift  bereaved  of 
fuch  a  P  aft  or. 

Drop  now  all  the  Duft,  and  bury  every  Infir 
mity  in  the  Grave,  and  look  only  upwards  after 
the  a/cended  Angel  !  All  that  was  Angelical  in 
Him  and  in  his  Minijlrj,  let  that  /fi/ewith  you, 
and  abide  in  a  pleating,  thankful,  profitable  and 
perpetual  Remembrance. 

v^Vfo^fc '^tawi1'  rrsiKJ  son  T/ti'J  i*"$a¥l  itS/h 

The  ^»^/  is  gone  j  the  &«/  was  that  !  gone 
to  GOD,  who  made  and  remade  it  !  to  Whom  it 
Jias  liv'd  de-voted  thro'  his  Power  and  Grace.  It 
is  gone  to  the  innumerable  Company  of  holy  An- 
gels,  and  is  as  one  of  them  among  the  Spirits  of 
<lu(l  Men  made  perftft.  It  is  gone  to  Abrabam, 
~lfaac  and  Jacob,  in  the  Kingdom  of  God  ,•  gone 
to  be  with  Chrift  in  Ttradlfa  to  behold  his  Glory 
and  /i*  Him  as  He  is  !  and  to  come  again  with 
Him^  when  he  {hall  return  in  the  Glories  of  the 
Father,  with  all  his  holy  Angels.  He  is  gone, 
whither  you  cannot  follow  Him  now,  but  we  hope 
many  of  You  will  foon  hereafter. 

His  Going  is  to  quicken  you  in  a  diligent  Prepa 
ration,  by  following  him  in  holy  Living,  to  meet 
hirn*m  the  Joys  of  his  Lord  for  ever.  —  O  what 
an  Angtl  will  you  fee  Him  then,  and  ht-Tou  ;  his 
Joy  and  Crown  of  rejoicing  !  Arc  not  even  Tcu  to 
be  this,  in  the  fre fence  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Cbrift  at 
his  Coming  ?  for  Tt  are  bis  Glory  and  Joy  I 

When 


of  tie  Churches.  ^j* 

When  Ckrift  Himfelf  fhall  prefent  You  and  Him 
together,  faying,  or  give  him  leave  to  fay,  <f  £e- 
keld  I,  and  the  Children  whom  thou  haft  given  we  f. 

Then  the  Soul  of  (he  now  defolate  Widow,  truft- 
ing  in  God,  (hall  fee  the  Angel  of  a  Husband  that 
once  was,  for  flous  Aftedion  and  ftrong  Endear 
ment  1  but  O  how  much  more  holy  and  lovely,  in 
the  Image  of  Cbrlft  perfeded  on  him  !  to  be  there 
fore  embrtcd  again  with  a  Joy  unknown  in  our 
prefent  State. 

Then  the  weeping  Relatives,  fuch  as  Mary  and 
Martha  were  to  Lazarus,  the  Family  of  Faith  and 
Piety  which  Jefus  loved,  {hall  fee  their  Brother 
alive  again,  "and  all  Tears  fhall  be  wtfd  from 
their  Eyes. 

Then  the  Friends,  that  were  as  his  own  Soul, 
^andthe^wr  Golkgue-Paftors,  who  were  knit  toge 
ther  in  Spirit,  as  Jonathan  to  David,  in  Angelic 
Bonds  •  having  united  their  Endeavours  to  turn 
many  unto  Rigbteonfnefs ,  fhall  fhine  as  the  Stars  to 
gether  in  the  Firmtmcnt  of  Glory. 

And  then  all  Ton  that  have  fhowfl  the  Klndne/et 
*f  God  unto  the  Deceafed  for  his  Works  fake,  and 
fhali  do  it  filS  from  Love  to  Chrift  unto  the  Half 
(f  Him  left  below,  fhall  hear  the  Lord  of  Glory 
take  it  to  Himfelf ;  "  Te  did  it-  unto  Me. 

And  finally,  Then  all  the  Elett  of  God  among 
You,  and  (anttifed  in  Jefus  Chrijt,  fhall  at  length 
meet  in  an  everlafting  Sabbnth  of  Reft  from  Sin 


t  i  Thcff  ii,  *£»  Hebrews  ii»  13. 

and 


Faithful  Paftors, 


and  Sorrow,  in  the  General  Affembly  and  Church  of 
the  Fir  ft  born,  whofe  Names  are  written  In  Heaven  $ 
a  glorious  Church  indeed,  not  having  Spot  or  Wrin 
kle  or  any  (ucb  thing  3*  to  ferve  Him  day  and  night 
in  his  Temple  above,  and  to  fmg  the  New  Song  tor 
ever  and  ever  :— — "  Thou  art  worthy ,f or  tbou  waft 
Jlaln,  and  bast  redeemed  us  to  God  by  thy  Blood,  out 
of  every  Kindred  and  Tongue  and  People  and  Nation  ! 
Wherefore  Bleffing  and  Honour  and  Glory  and 
"Power  be  unto  Him  that  Jittetb  on  the  Throne ^  and 
U  the  Lawk  for  ever  $n&  ever. 


f 


• 


14  DAY 


M18QG04 

"  "  "" 


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